Barrel making machine



June 20, 1939. T. A. McMAHON ET AL- BARREL MAKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 15, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 O a! 1 V////// T.A.MMAH0N I 4 HIERHOLZER I w. GLAZAT 11111620, 1939- 1'. A. McMAHON ET AL 2,163,344

BARREL MAKING MACHINE Filed Aug. l5, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June.20, 1939.

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BARREL MAKING MACHiNE Filed Aug. 15, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 MAE-m 1 W m m f QA 2W MRA A5 1 WW 0 Vmv 1a,

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June 20, 1939. TA, MCMAHON ETAL 2,163,344

BARREL MAKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 15, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 nu11oz$ 2 TAJWO MAHON w. H \ERHOLZER ,4 w. c. LAZAT Patented June 20, 1 939 PATENT QFFICE BARREL MAKING MACHINE Teaphel A. McMahon, William Hierholzer, and William Glazat, Grand Haven, Mich.

Application August 15, 1936, Serial No. 96,296

' 2 Claims. (01. 147-4) This invention pertains to the art of coopering and particularly to the making'of barrels, casks and the like.

The main object is to hold all parts'of a barrel in place, enclosed within the machine, while the several steps in the process of manufacture are performed.

Another object is to be enabled to turn over the barrel, that is: reverse it end for end, so that the necessary steps in manufacture may be performed upon both ends of a barrel and the hoops put on, so that the vessel may be completed before it is released from the machine.

Various other objects will appear as the de- 1-3 scription proceeds.

We have filed as a part of this specification four sheets of drawings which illustrate the machine as at present constructed; but we do not wish to be limited by the example shown; because it is'obvious many modifications may be made in form and in size of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It is our desire to secure by Letters Patent, protection for everything fairly included within the scope of the appended claims.

Throughout this specification and in the drawings We have applied to each separate element, as described and as shown, a particular designating number which is used, exclusively, to identify its particular element whenever it appears.

In the drawings Figure l isan elevation showing parts in section;

Fig. 2 is an elevation viewing Fig. 1 from the right; I

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a plan view;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken centrally of the head locating plate;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 1- -1 of Fig. 5..

Upon a base or foundation 2 of any desired construction are mounted firmly a column or pillar 3 and a support, pedestal or brackets.

The three elements, base 2. pillar 3, and bracket or pedestal 4, carry all the operating mechanisms 50 of our machine.

A die carrier or stave bender 5, having trunnions 6 and 1 seated in the pillar 3 and the bracket or pedestal 4, respectively, is so mounted that it may be rotated upon its trunnions 6 and "l.

A hand wheel 8 is fixed to one of the trunnions,

6 or I, for the purpose of turning the die carrier 5 over to present either end of the barrel upward. The drawings show the hand wheel 8 fixed to trunnion l but it is obvious it could be fixed to trunnion 6 if that appeared more desirable.

The work is held rigidly in the desired position, with either end of the barrel upward, by a latch 9 which is pivoted to bracket 4 by a pinit and takes into notch H or notch i2, located at diametrically opposite points of the periphery of collar l3 fixed to trunnion l.

As shown, die carrier 5 has six dies or stave benders I 4. The number of dies may be more than or less than six, as desired, the essential point being that the number of dies or stave benders Id be sufficient to substantially enclose the barrel, circumferentially.

Each die or stave bender I4 is pivoted at [5 to a rigid piston rod it, Each piston rod Iii is carried by a separate piston ll located in a separate cylinder l8. All the cylinders l8 are bored into the large casting which constitutes the die carrier 5.

The pistons I! are actuated simultaneously by fluid (water, air or steam, as preferred) I admitted through a conduit l9 formed in the trunnion 'l and on die carrier 5 as shown and connected to any suitable source of supply, by a pipe 20 having a rotatable connection 2 i, and an ordinary well known valve mechanism conveniently located for admitting fluid to and exhausting fluid from cylinders I8.

The valve mechanism has not been illustrated because its particular construction is immaterial and does not constitute a part of our invention.

Suitably located on pillar 3, above trunnion 6, is a rotatably mounted and vertically movable bracket or carrying plate 22.

A barrel head locating plate and a crozing device are mounted upon carrying plate 22.

The barrel head locating plate is numbered 23, and the crozing device is numbered 24. Either of these elements may be swung into operating position and locked there; or each of them may be swung to inoperative position or both of them may be swung to one side to give a clear space in which to operate a hoop driver 33.

Carrying plate 22 is locked in operative position with its barrel head locating plate or its crozing device in position to be operated, as de sired, by latch 25, pivoted at 26 to the upper so of frame bracket 4.

A nut 21, having an operating handle it is screw threadedly connected with swinging latch bar 25 and constitutes a part of the latching mechanism to draw carrying plate 22 into intimate and immovable contact with frame bracket 4.

Carrying plate or bracket 22 is substantially V-shape in contour and the hearing by which it is mounted upon pillar 3 is located at the angle of the V. One of the arms of the v carries the barrel head locating plate 23 and the other arm of the V carries the crozing device 24. At the outer end of each of these diverging arms there is a slot 29 to co-operate with latch mechanism 25, according to which operating mechanism, the crozing machine or the barrel head locating plate is in operating position.

The crozing device 24 comprises a suitable cutter 38, carried by a shaft 3!, of an electric motor 32, mounted upon a cross-bar 33 of an annulus 34, held in rotatably concentric relation with the wall of a circular opening through bracket 22 by a removable ring 35, seated upon bracket 22 above a circumferentially projecting ledge 35 on annulus 34, as shown.

A handle 31, fixed to annulus 34, serves to rotate the annulus and carry the crozing cutter 30, around on the inside of the barrel to cut the croze in which the barrel head is to be seated.

Lead-in wires 38, from any suitable source of electric energy supply power to operate motor 32, upon the shaft of which the crozing cutter 30 is fixed.

Annulus 34 may be made interchangeable with others of different dimensions so that barrels of diiferent diameters, within the range of the machine, may be crozed.

Suitably rotatably located nearer the upper end of pillar 3, above bracket 22, is an arm 39, carrying a vertically disposed cylinder 40, in which a piston 4| is located.

Downwardly projecting piston rod 42 passes through an opening provided for that purpose in. arm 39. A disk or crossed arms 43, fixed to the lower end of piston rod 42, carries a plurality of suitably spaced hoop engaging driving fingers 44.

Driving fingers 44 may be spring actuated inwardly if desired.

Piston M is reciprocated in cylinder 48 by the admission of fluid, alternately, at opposite ends thereof, through piping 45, by manipulating suitable valve mechanism 46.

Operating fluid may be conveyed to the valve mechanism 46, from any suitable source of supply, by a conduit 41, which may be a pipe or hose, as preferred.

Centrally located in the base of the machine is an elevator 48, which may be operated by any suitable source of power. As diagrammatically indicated at a hydraulic cylinder is employed; but the operating mechanism may be a steam cylinder, a pneumatic cylinder, a rack and pinion, a nut and screw construction or any other means desired to give a controlled reciprocating motion.

In the operation of the machine, it is necessary to lift bracket 22, to place crozing cutter inside the barrel, and to remove the cutter 30 from the barrel after the croze is finished. For ease of manipulation, we attach a chain or cable 52, to a lug 53, provided for that purpose, on bracket 22. Cable 52 is extended upwardly and passes over a pulley 54, located near the upper end of hollow pillar 3. A counterbalancing weight 55, inside pillar 3, is attached to the free end of cable 52.

Springs 56, connecting the ends of dies I4 with the die carrier 5, are provided on both sides of carrier 5 to prevent the uncontrolled swinging or Wabbling of dies I4 on the piston rods I6. These springs 56 are not essential; but we have found they add materially to expeditious operation and we prefer to employ them. Both ends of springs 56 are readily detachable from lugs 51, to which they are hooked. When the springs 56 below the die carrier 5 are disconnected, it is apparent, that the springs 55 above the die carrier 5 will pull the upper ends of the dies I4 outwardly. Such tipping of the dies I4 provides a, sort of nest and aids, materially, in speedily properly locating the loose staves upon the dies I4.

Springs 56, also pull the dies I4, outwardly, when fluid pressure upon the piston heads I 1 is released. We have found the resiliency of the springs 56 to be quite sufficient to withdraw dies l4; but if additional power is desirable, coiled compressible springs seated upon piston rods I6, between pistons I1 and the cylinder heads may be employed, as is usual in single acting fluid motors.

Instead of casting cylinders I8 and conduit I 9 integral with die carrier 5, these elements may be built up from a plurality of commercial pipes, couplings, bars, etc., as will be obvious.

The drawings show both heads of cylinders I8 removable; but this construction is not essential.

In operation: Fluid being exhausted from cylinders I8, dies I4 are withdrawn by springs 56; elevator 48 is raised to the desired height to support the staves of which the barrel is to be com- I posed; staves enough to make a barrel are placed within dies I4 with their ends resting upon platform 49; fluid admitted to cylinders I8 moves dies I4 inwardly, and bends the staves to the desired shape with their edges in contact; bracket 22 is lifted and rotated to bring crozing cutter 30 inside the barrel; bracket 22 is locked by latch 25; electric current is switched on and drives motor 32; by means of handle 31 an attendant rotates annulus 34 and carries crozing cutter 3|] completely around the inside of the barrel and cuts the croze; latch 25 is disengaged; bracket 22 is lifted and swung out of the way; elevator 48 is lowered; latch 9 is disengaged; the die holder 5 and the incompleted barrel are rotated 180 by hand wheel 8; latch 9 is engaged with the notch in collar I3 diametrically opposite the one from which it was just disengaged; a barrel head is placed upon head cating plate 50; fluid in cylinders I8 is partially exhausted, sufiicient to loosen the barrel staves enough to permit the seating of the barrel head in the croze by an upward movement of elevator 48; full pressure is let into cylinders I8; bracket 22 is swung into position and locked and the steps of operation just described are repeated on the newly presented end of the barrel.

After a head has been forced into the second end of the barrel, we prefer to swing bracket 22 clear out of the way, place hoops upon the upper end of the barrel and force them into position by the hoop driving elements; reversethe barrel and drive hoops upon the other end.

However, instead of driving the hoops into place and completing the barrel, trussing hoops may be placed upon both ends of the barrel, if-

desired, and the barrel released from the machine for further treatment.

Having fully described our invention what we wish to secure by LettersPatent is:

1. In a barrel'making machine the combination of an upstanding pillar, an upstanding pedestal suitably spaced from the pillar, alined bearings in the pillar and the pedestal, an annular die carrier rotatably mounted in the bearings, radially located cylinders in the die carrier, pistons in the cylinders, a piston rod fixed to each piston, a pivotally mounted die on the free end of each piston rod, conduits for carrying operating fluid to each cylinder, an elevatable platformintermediate the pillar and the pedestal, a carrying plate swingably mounted upon the pillar above the annular die carrier, a barrel head locating device on the carrying plate above and in alinement with the elevatable platform, means for locking the carrying plate to the pedestal and means for rotating the annular die carrier.

2. In a barrel making machine the combinatlon of a pillar, a pedestal, hearings in the pillar and in the pedestal in horizontal alinement, a ring shaped stave bending die carrier having journals fixed to its periphery at diametrically opposite points to rest in the alined bearings in the pedestal and the pillar, an abutment swingably mounted on the pillar, means for locking the swingable abutment to the pedestal, an elevatable platform below the ring shaped die carrier and in alinement with the swingable abutment for raising the staves of a forming barrel powerfully against the abutment to bring their ends in alinement, means for turning the ring shaped die carrier upside down and means for locking the die carrier with either selected side upward.

'I'EAPHEL A. McMAHON. 

